Prepping for a Healthy Fruit Harvest

Prepping for a Healthy Fruit Harvest Marion Murray USU IPM Program Marion Murray USU IPM Program

Fruit Production Questions Pruning Fertilization Thinning Irrigation Fruit Varieties Harvesting Contact: County Extension Office Dr. Teryl Roper (Fruit Extension Specialist, Logan, UT) teryl.roper@usu.edu

Pest Advisories: pestadvisories.usu.edu

APPLE, PEAR green apple aphid rosy apple aphid blister mites San Jose scale iron chlorosis fire blight codling moth woolly apple aphid powdery mildew spider mites flatheaded borers stink bugs leafhopper leafroller pear slug PEACH, NECTARINE, PLUM, APRICOT green peach aphid leafcurl plum aphid peach twig borer cytospora canker iron chlorosis greater peachtree borer coryneum blight peach powdery mildew apple powdery mildew CHERRY black cherry aphid iron chlorosis western cherry fruit fly bacterial canker powdery mildew shothole borer spider mite leafhopper coryneum blight

Dormant Delayed Dormant

Dormant Timing Buds Tightly Closed APPLE, PEAR Prune 15 20% last year's growth to let light in also remove dead and diseased branches TART CHERRY Prune crossing, dead, and over extended limbs Prune 10 inches beyond dead tissue

Delayed Dormant Timing What is This? Apples: swollen bud 1/2 green Pears: swollen bud green cluster

Delayed Dormant What is This? Peaches and Nectarines: swollen bud first pink

Delayed Dormant What is This? Cherries: swollen bud tight cluster Apricot: swollen bud

Delayed Dormant What is This? Plum: swollen bud green cluster Swollen Bud Bud Burst Green Cluster

Delayed Dormant Timing Bud Swell and Beyond 1. PEACH, NECTARINE, APRICOT, PLUM, SWEET CHERRY: prune for light and fruit production

Delayed Dormant Timing Bud Swell and Beyond Pruning Stone Fruit Trees To PREVENT Cytospora Canker that causes gumming

Prune 4 inches beyond dead tissue

Delayed Dormant Timing Targeted Pests APPLE, PEAR green apple aphid rosy apple aphid blister mites San Jose scale PEACH, NECTARINE, PLUM, APRICOT green peach aphid leafcurl plum aphid peach twig borer CHERRY black cherry aphid fire blight

Delayed Dormant Pest Management ALL FRUITS Aphids Green apple aphid Rosy apple aphid Green apple aphid Rosy apple aphid Mealy plum aphid Green peach aphid Black Cherry Aphid

ALL FRUITS Aphids Overwinter as eggs

ALL FRUITS Aphids Eggs hatch in spring

ALL FRUITS Aphids winged aphids

ALL FRUITS Aphids Most aphids leave fruit trees by early June for weeds and vegetable hosts for the summer Also, they provide food for beneficial insects By June, curled leaves will be empty of aphids

Delayed Dormant Pest Management APPLE, PEAR Blister mites Tiny eriophyid mites that feed within leaf blisters all season long Blister mite symptoms on apple early season (top) and late season (bottom) Blister mite symptoms on pear

Mites overwinter in bud scales and start emerging at bud swell

Delayed Dormant Pest Management APPLE, PEAR San Jose Scale Immobile insect that feeds on twigs, limbs, and fruit Large infestations weaken trees and kill limbs

Delayed Dormant Pest Management APPLE, PEAR San Jose Scale Overwinter on tree bark Over 200 crawlers hatch from each female in June stylet (mouthpart) feeding in plant tissue

Delayed Dormant Pest Management PEACH, NECTARINE, APRICOT Peach Twig Borer Larvae feed inside ripening fruit

Delayed Dormant Pest Management PEACH, NECTARINE, APRICOT Peach Twig Borer Overwinters as a larva in protected sites in the tree

Delayed Dormant Pest Management ALL FRUIT TREES Oil Spray 2% mixture 5 TBS oil per gal water Horticultural oil: Spray entire tree (full coverage of buds, etc.) Only use when temps > 45F Do not use not within 24 hr of frost Do not use within 24 hr of rain Paraffinic oil Mineral oil Canola oil

Delayed Dormant Pest Management APPLE, PEAR Fire Blight Caused by a bacterium Erwinia amylovora Bacteria overwinter in old infections Bacteria becomes active in early spring

Delayed Dormant Pest Management APPLE, PEAR Copper Spray Works by preventing fire blight bacteria from multiplying Thorough coverage of bark and areas of infection Can be mixed with oil spray

Delayed Dormant Timing Bud Swell and Beyond 1. PEACH, NECTARINE, APRICOT, PLUM, SWEET CHERRY: prune for light and fruit production 2. ALL FRUIT TREES: Spray application to target some insects and diseases (if they were present the prior year) 3. ALL FRUIT TREES: Soil application of chelated iron to prevent iron chlorosis 4. APPLE and new fruit trees: Apply nitrogen fertilizer Yearly or every other year Collect soil for nutrient analysis from Utah State University Analytical Lab (usual.usu.edu)

Summary: Dormant Delayed Dormant DORMANT APPLES, PEARS prune DELAYED DORMANT PEACH, NECTARINE, APRICOT, PLUM, SWEET CHERRRY: prune ALL FRUITS: oil spray (if insects present last year) APPLE, PEAR: oil spray plus copper (if fire blight present last year) ALL FRUITS: Apply chelated iron (if necessary) Determine fertilizer needs

Spring

Spring 1. APPLE, PEAR (some), PEACH, NECTARINE, APRICOT, PLUM: thin fruit 2. Pest management

Spring Fruit Thinning APPLE at bloom: hand remove all flowers except king bloom APPLE, PEAR (some) at ½ 1 inch diameter: space clusters to 6 inches apart thin remaining clusters to a single large fruit PEACH, NECTARINE, APRICOT, PLUM when fruits are ¾ 1 inch diameter: space fruit 6 8

Spring 1. APPLE, PEAR (some), PEACH, NECTARINE, APRICOT, PLUM: thin fruit 2. Pest management APPLE, PEAR: powdery mildew, fire blight, codling moth, woolly apple aphid PEACH, NECTARINE, APRICOT: peach twig borer, coryneum blight CHERRY: western cherry fruit fly

Spring Pest Management APPLE: Apple Powdery Mildew Caused by a fungus: each host tree has its own species Overwinters in terminal buds and on twigs

Spring Pest Management APPLE Powdery Mildew Management Monitor by looking for fuzzy whitish patches. Fungicides Apply at open cluster stage Repeat every 7 14 days two to three times

Spring Pest Management APPLE, PEAR Powdery Mildew Products EFFECTIVENESS Ingredient Brand Residual (days) Type myclobutanil Spectracide Immunox 14 conventional potassium bicarbonate Monterey Bi Carb 5 7 organic sulfur many products 7 organic sulfur + pyrethrin sulfur + insecticidal soap Bonide Citrus, Fruit and Nut Orchard Spray; Nature s Care 3 in 1 7 organic Safer 3 in 1 7 organic neem oil many products 5 organic Comments do not use in temps above 85F do not use in temps above 85F do not use in temps above 85F do not use in temps above 85F

Spring Pest Management APPLE, PEAR Fire Blight Highly susceptible varieties: Fuji, Gala, Gingergold, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Jonathon, Jonagold, Idared Asian pears, Bosc, D Anjou Primary infections occur through open blossoms

Spring Pest Management APPLE, PEAR Fire Blight Management Copper application at delayed dormant timing Prevent infections with streptomycin fire blight spray only during bloom Use only when temperatures over a 4 day period are above 75F AND moisture is present (rain, irrigation water) AND / OR Monitor for new infections starting 2 weeks after bloom, and prune them out immediately

Spring Pest Management APPLE, PEAR Fire Blight Management

Spring Pest Management APPLE, PEAR Codling Moth Larvae burrow into the fruit to feed on seeds Can infest 100% of the fruit on a tree

Codling Moth Life Cycle 1. overwintering larvae pupate into moths in spring 2. moths lay eggs on fruit mid spring 3. eggs hatch and bore into fruit 4. mature larvae pupate to adults; begins another generation

Spring Pest Management APPLE, PEAR Codling Moth Management Thin fruit to one apple/ cluster Clean and mow or remove all unharvested or dropped fruit all season Remove unmanaged trees

Spring Pest Management APPLE, PEAR Codling Moths: Fruit Bagging Bag during thinning Remove any fruit that you don t bag Options Japanese 2 ply apple bags waxed paper or clear plastic sandwich bags white or tan paper sacks clear poly bags with drawstring closures disposable nylon foot socks

Spring Pest Management APPLE, PEAR Codling Moth Management Extension hangs monitoring traps to help determine when to make first spray First spray of the season is applied by recommended date Re apply for each generation

Spring Pest Management APPLE, PEAR Codling Moth Management PDF document linked within Fruit IPM Pest Advisory message

Spring Pest Management APPLE, PEAR Codling Moth Conventional Products EFFECTIVENESS Ingredient Brand Residual (days) Comments acetamiprid Ortho Fruit & Veg 14 max 4 applications gammacyhalothrin Spectracide Triazicide 14 17 wait 21 days to harvest carbaryl Sevin 14 permethrin Bonide Eight 14 pears only malathion Bonide Malathion 5 7 max 2 sprays malathion Hi Yield 55% Malathion; Ortho Malathion 5 7 pears only; max 2 sprays

Spring Pest Management APPLE, PEAR Codling Moth Organic Products EFFECTIVENESS Ingredient Brand Residual (days) azadirachtin Safer BioNeem 7 10 spinosad Ferti lome / Monterey / Natural Guard 7 10 oil pyrethrin plus soap and neem pyrethrin plus neem or canola oil All Seasons Oil; EcoSmart; neem products; Natria Multi Insect Safer End All plus Neem 5 7 Ferti lome Fruit Tree Spray; Monterey Take Down; Nature s Care Insect Control 3 3 5 Comments Use 1% in water; apply at start of each generation pyrethrin Ortho Fruit Spray; Fertilome Fruit Tree Spray; Monterey Bug Buster O 3 5 kaolin clay Surround 7 produces protective barrier

Spring Pest Management Pesticide Pre Mixes (Labeled for Insects and Diseases) Products containing non organic fungicide + insecticide Not Recommended applying these products means that you may be using a fungicide when it is not necessary, or vice versa if used repeatedly, there is greater risk for resistance Products with organic insect and disease control OK products containing sulfur plus pyrethrin products containing neem oil plus pyrethrin no risk of resisance

Spring Pest Management APPLE Woolly Apple Aphid Feeding causes galls on stems and roots that cause reduced tree vigor or even death of young trees. Life cycle: Overwinter on roots or in the tree. Individuals become active in late spring.

Woolly Apple Aphid Damage

Spring Pest Management APPLE Woolly Apple Aphid Management Monitor starting in mid May for aphid presence Insecticides insecticidal soap 1% oil Bonide Malathion must contact insect apply to dripping do not apply when temps > 85F

Spring Pest Management PEACH, NECTARINE, APRICOT Peach Twig Borer Management Delayed dormant oil application One application of Bacillus thuringiensis or spinosad before or after bloom Ingredient Bacillus thuringiensis spinosad Brand Natural Guard Caterpillar Spray Bonide Captain Jack s Monterey Bt others Ferti lome Spinosad Monterey Spinosad Natural Guard Spinosad others

Spring Pest Management PEACH, NECTARINE, APRICOT, PLUM Coryneum Blight Caused by a fungus Infections occur on new growth in spring Later, fruit becomes infected

Early infections on peach and apricot

Coryneum Spring infections later Blight turn scabby

Summer infections render fruit inedible Occur during heavy rains close to harvest

Spring Pest Management PEACH, NECTARINE, APRICOT, PLUM Coryneum Blight Prevent wetting of foliage with irrigation Fungicide at shuck split; repeat all season as necessary (after 4+ hour rainfalls) Conventional: Daconil (chlorothalonil): don t use after shuck split Spectracide Immunox (myclobutanil): can be used all season Captan (captan): can be used all season (not as effective) Organic: Natural Guard Copper Soap

Spring Pest Management CHERRY Western Cherry Fruit Fly A maggot pest of tart and sweet cherries; one infested cherry can ruin an entire commercial crop Overwinters as pupa in the soil Adults begin to emerge in May, and lays up to 200 eggs under the skin of fruit until harvest

Egg laying begins when fruit turns a salmon blush color

Spring Pest Management CHERRY Western Cherry Fruit Fly Management Add tarp under tree Remove dropped fruit Remove all unharvested fruit Net entire tree

Spring Pest Management CHERRY Western Cherry Fruit Fly Pesticide Products EFFECTIVENESS Ingredient Residual (days) Type Ortho Fruit & Veg (acetamiprid) 14 conventional Hi Yield 55% Malathion; Ortho Malathion; Bonide Malathion Spectracide Triazicide (gammacyhalothrin) Comments max 4 applications 5 7 conventional max 2 4 sprays 14 17 conventional Monterey / Ferti lome / Natural Guard Spinosad 7 organic Sevin (carbaryl) 14 conventional (pyrethrin) Ortho Fruit Spray; Fertilome Fruit Tree Spray; Monterey Bug Buster O 3 5 organic wait 21 days to harvest

Spring Summary 1. APPLE, PEAR (some), PEACH, NECTARINE, APRICOT, PLUM: thin fruit 2. Pest management APPLE, PEAR: powdery mildew, fire blight, codling moth, woolly apple aphid PEACH, NECTARINE, APRICOT: peach twig borer, coryneum blight CHERRY: western cherry fruit fly

Summer

Summer 1. July Get foliar nutrition analysis (if necessary) Collect foliage for nutrient analysis from Utah State University Analytical Lab (usual.usu.edu) 2. Proper irrigation

Summer Irrigation Especially important during fruit maturation dry periods in August (flower bud formation) Reduce amount by late August

Summer 1. July Get foliar nutrition analysis (if necessary) 2. Proper irrigation 3. Pest management APPLE, PEAR: continue to prune out fire blight infections continue sprays to prevent codling moth until Sept 15 CHERRY: continue western cherry fruit fly until harvest bird control PEACH, NECTARINE, PLUM: greater peachtree borer

Summer Pest Management PEACH, NECTARINE, PLUM Greater Peachtree Borer A clearwing moth that attacks the trunk at soil level Threats: kills young trees pre disposes older trees to other injuries

Greater Peachtree Borer Life Cycle 1. overwintering larvae start feeding in spring 2. larvae pupate to adults starting in mid June 3. adults lay eggs on bark from July through September 4. eggs hatch and immediately bore into lower crown and roots

Summer Pest Management PEACH, NECTARINE, PLUM Greater Peachtree Borer Organic Control Remove all weeds and mulch from touching the bark

Summer Pest Management PEACH, NECTARINE, PLUM Greater Peachtree Borer Organic Control Expose and kill larvae in gum

Summer Pest Management PEACH, NECTARINE, PLUM Greater Peachtree Borer Organic Control Nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae

Summer Pest Management PEACH Greater Peachtree Borer Products Mid June through September EFFECTIVENESS Ingredient Brand Residual (days) Comments permethrin Hi Yield Lawn, Garden, Pet Bonide Eight 30 peach only esfenvalerate Monterey Bug Buster II 30 spinosad Monterey / Ferti lome / Natural Guard Spinosad products 5 7

Summer Summary 1. July Get foliar nutrition analysis (if necessary) 2. Proper irrigation 3. Pest management APPLE, PEAR: continue to prune out fire blight infections continue sprays to prevent codling moth until Sept 15 CHERRY: continue western cherry fruit fly until harvest bird control PEACH, NECTARINE, PLUM: greater peachtree borer protect lower trunk from late July through September

Fall

Fall 1. Irrigate before ground freezes 2. Pest management PEACH, NECTARINE, PLUM: coryneum blight

Fall Pest Management PEACH, NECTARINE, APRICOT, PLUM Coryneum Blight Shuck split fungicide and repeat through summer as necessary Apply Copper Fungicide in fall at 50% leaf drop good coverage to protect leaf scars

Fall 1. Irrigate before ground freezes 2. Pest management 3. NEW TREES: Paint trunks with latex paint OR Apply white tree wrap to trunks from Dec March Flatheaded borers Cytospora canker

White Tree Wrap

Paint Trunks White latex paint and water 1:1 ratio

Fall Summary 1. Irrigate before ground freezes 2. Pest management PEACH, NECTARINE, PLUM: coryneum blight 3. NEW TREES: Paint trunks with latex paint OR Apply white tree wrap to trunks from Dec March

For CEU Credits Send email to: marion.murray@usu.edu Subject line: Fruit Webinar CEU Credits Include in the email message: Full Name City, State (including Nevada) Applicator s License Number Your Email Address Marion Murray IPM Project Leader Utah State University Logan, UT marion.murray@usu.edu 435-797-0776

Other products to use Insecticidal Soap aphids, mites, leafhopper, thrips Spinosad for thrips, apply at petal fall